The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-08-21
The Lost Venus of Thirtieth Street.

The disappearance from Mr.. TuRrNr's
studio Of broken-fngered Venus was re-
ported in the local columns Of IHE SUN on
Friday 1t is one of those minor incidents
which pass almost unnoticed among the
thousand and-one kaleidoscope changes pre-
scented to the eye In the daily news OF
great city. The Venus has gone. no one
knows whittier, but the giant wheels OF New
York's commerce continue to revolve, and
the hurry burly goes right on.
Yet In this case there are elements which
appeal strongly to the imagination. Tho
story is commonplace enough upon the sur
face Mr.. TURIN, who was the temporary
custodian Of the Venus with broken little
finger, went to Cleveland, Ohio, on business.
When he came back to his studio In West
Thirtieth street the statue was gone Mr..
TURINI's gold watch and chain had also dis.
appeared, and few other trinkets. A needy
person named CURToPAssI, whom the sculp-
tor had befriended. was known to have had
access to the room. Pawn tickets for the
jewelry afterward came to Mr.. TURIN by
mail. or the marble Lady Of Love nothing
at the present writing has been heard.
The natural conclusion Is that CURTOPAssI
stole the jewelry and the Venus at the same
time and with the same purpose. This
would undoubtedly be the theory upon which
any one Of Inspector BYRNEss sagacious
assistants would proceed to work. Nine
teenth century common sense cOmmends 1t
as adequate. Nevertheless. the man Of sem
timcnt. the poet, the psychologist will all
be inclined to study the circumstances from
a point Of view very different from that OF
Mulberry street.
1t is likely that CURToPAssI did carry of
the broken-nngered Venus. But what was
his motive? Less available plumber can
hardly be imagined Too heavy to transport
too bulky to conceal, too easily identified to
dispose OF through the underground channels
ofdishonest barter, not readily marketable in
quarters where there would be no suspicion,
the marble statue OF Venus is about the last
thing that a rascal in full possession OF his
senses would think OF misappropriating, even
when he had the chance. II CURToPAssI did
snatch the goddess from her pedestal and
bear her of out Of the studio and away from
Thirtieth street, the rape must have been in
spired by motives widely different from
those OF the ordinary thief.
Here Is the opportunity OF the psycholo-
gist and tho romancer. In legends, and per-
haps In real life men before this have fallen
In love with the marble embodiments OF
genius born beauty. The warm-blooded,
impulsive Italian observes the Venus on one
OF his errands Of mendlcancy to the sculp-
tors workshop. He is fairly startled by her
radiant presence. The instincts that have
come to him by inheritance from his pagan
ancestors are awakened by a single glance.
Disturbed, confused, he leaves the studio,
carrying not only the dime or nickel that he
obtained from Mr.. 1URINI, but also bright
vision which haunts him wherever he goes
He finds an excuse to return the next day;
the goddess seems to recognize him. and TO
respond with smile full Of graciousness to
his silent alteration. Again and again he in
vents pretexts to visit the studio. perhaps
pleading poverty when there Is no real cause
10 beg merely in order that he may stand
for few seconds face to face with the object
of his worship
Need we trace the subtle gradatlons by
which this distant worship becomes an over
mastering personal passion. mania with
CURToPAssI2 To his disordered mind the
Venus now seems to understand him per-
fectly. Her white face and figure seem to
glow W tn passion responsive to his own. Her
beautiful lips seem to whisper. when TURINIs
back is turned: Take me away. lam yours"
What wonder, then. that when the oppor-
tunity comes the love-mad exile from
Sorrento or Amaln seizes the goddess to
make her all his ownf Perhaps TO his crazy
senses 1t actually appears that abe herself
steps down fron har pedestal Like the